1 The Confederation shall provide the cantons with global compensatory payments within the scope of the authorised credits and on the basis of programme agreements for the protection and upkeep of biotopes of national, regional and local importance and for ecological compensation.
2 By way of exception, it may provide compensatory payments by means of a ruling for projects that require an individual assessment by the Confederation.
3 The amount of a compensatory payment is determined by the significance of the site to be protected and the effectiveness of the measures.
4 Compensatory payments shall be provided only if the measures are cost-effective and are carried out professionally.
5 The Confederation shall bear the costs of designating biotopes of national importance.
62Inserted by No I of the FA of 19 June 1987 (AS 1988 254; BBl 1985 II 1445). Amended by No II 7 of the FA of 6 Oct. 2006 on the New System of Financial Equalisation and Division of Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons (NFA), in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 5779; BBl2005 6029).